Kneecap director picks up Bafta for outstanding debut

By Cate McCurry, PA

Kneecap has won outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer at the Bafta film awards.

The Irish-language film depicts the rise of the Belfast rap trio and has been nominated in six categories.

The breakout movie was nominated for best British film, best editing, film not in the English language, best original screenplay, best casting and best debut – British writer, director or producer.

Kneecap, made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, arrived on the red carpet in London with the film director Rich Peppiatt.

O Caireallain, also known as Moglai Bap, told the PA news agency on the red carpet: “We will be very proud to get best British film of the year.

“It will be the first Irish language film to get best British film of the year, I imagine.”

Peppiatt said they would be “chuffed” to pick up that award.

“That will be quite fun to get up there and ultimately, the Irish language was destroyed, nearly, by the British Empire hundreds of years ago,” he added.

“The fact that these lads are standing here today with a movie in the Irish language is testament to the resilience of the language.

“People who wanted to carry it on when there was only a few thousand people speaking it and it’s part of a cultural revival.”

 

Peppiatt continued: “In Ireland, but also here, there are Irish language classes oversubscribed everywhere.

“People are setting up meetings in pubs to be able to talk Irish.

“Ultimately, any time you can get it out of schools and onto the streets like the boys have, I think that bodes well for the future of it.

“I hope there will be lots more Irish language films and filmmakers standing here in the coming years.”

Og O Hannaidh, also known as Mo Chara, said: “When you can buy a bag of weed in Irish, you know it’s doing well.”

 

Asked about working with Hollywood actor Michael Fassbender, who also stars in the film, Og O Hannaidh said: “The toughest part was trying to keep him calm.

“He was so star-struck and nervous.

“It was his big break and obviously I know we are so intimidating for somebody like Michael Fassbender.

“It was an absolute privilege for him.”

Peppiatt said: “He was a terrible influence as he liked to get a good old drink with the boys and together they are a terrible foursome.”

O Caireallain said they “were always late every morning”.

 

Peppiatt said that despite the disappointment of missing out on an Oscar nomination, the band and those involved in the film have a lot to celebrate.

“The film has had so much success that you can barely look at it and go we fell at the final, the biggest hurdle of them all. We are very proud of what we have done,” he added.

“When we set out to make this film, we just wanted it to be a film that the people in the north of Ireland would enjoy.

“That’s it and the fact that it has found a global audience and we have travelled all around the world with it is something far beyond what we could have fathomed and it has been a great experience over the last year.

“We will have a lie down now.”